"We're in a position now where we're going to get down to our numbers on (Sunday or Monday) and we're going to spend that week of practices before opening night putting together our chemistry."

This, of course, is not Hitchcock's choice. He wanted a seamless ramp up to the season opener Oct. 5 against the Anaheim Ducks, but "that's how it has to be," he said.

The Hurricanes showed little mercy, even though they are one season removed from winning the Stanley Cup and down to 25 players in camp. They had 17 NHL regulars in uniform, 15 skaters and their top two goalies.

"It felt like a regular-season game," left winger Rick Nash said.

The Hurricanes went up 1-0 at 10:48 of the second period, scoring a five-on-three goal with a series of passes from Justin Williams to Eric Staal to Jeff Hamilton for the finish.

A neutral-zone turnover by Blue Jackets defenseman Duvie Westcott sent the Hurricanes' Cory Stillman loose on a breakaway early in the third period. Stillman, from the top of the left dot, let loose a hard shot to the far post, top corner, handcuffing Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason to his stick side.

Carolina's final goal was an empty-netter by Stillman with 13.6 seconds remaining.

"I'm glad we got to play this team, and I'm glad we get to play them again (tonight)," Hitchcock said. "It's frustrating to lose, but it's a good barometer of where you stand."

The Blue Jackets, who have spent training camp looking for a No. 1 center, gave Kris Beech his chance between Nash and right winger David Vyborny. Beech, the No. 7 overall pick of Washington in 1999, was signed to a one-year contract that will pay him far less than his NHL salary if he's sent to the minors.

Hitchcock wouldn't say whether Beech will get another shot, but this one didn't go very well. The trio created few chances, getting only mildly better as the game moved along. They created nine shots, were a combined minus-5, and Beech won five of 15 faceoffs.

"A work in progress," Hitchcock said.

That speaks for the club, too.

Foote, Peca and Modin have both been ruled out of the final two exhibition games, Hitchcock said. Goaltender Fredrik Norrena, who missed a week because of a sore left knee, could start Saturday. Or he might not.